Bob Haynie: What's On 2nd?
With all due respect to Abbott and Costello, we know who's on first for the Baltimore Orioles. That is April's American League Player of the Month, Chris Davis.
The question is what in the hell is going on at second base.
Since Brian Roberts went down with an injured hamstring in the very first series of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays, Ryan Flaherty and Alexi Casilla have been trying to get it done there.
Defensively, they have done a solid job. Heading into the weekend set against the Twins, Flaherty and Casilla have combined to field 151 chances without an error. Not too shabby.
Offensively, however, they have been a nightmare.
In 35 AB's, Casilla has seven hits and is batting .200 with an OBP of .222. He has a many RBI's as I do. Zero. Flaherty, who gets the brunt of the playing time at 2B, is hitting .122. His OBP is an anemic .209.
It was announced on Wednesday that Roberts will be out for at least six more weeks. So Birds manager Buck Showalter will have to make due with what he has, for the time being.
Fans would love for the Orioles to bring up prospect Jonathan Schoop and play him at second base. That is not an option at this point. But it may be if Flaherty and Casilla don't start producing.
Manny Machado was a surprise call up in 2012 and that has worked out pretty well. I'm not comparing Schoop to Machado, but the Orioles may not have a choice but to throw him in there.
It's time for Flaherty or Casilla to step it up with the bat.
A .322 batting average is great. Not when it's the average of two players combined.
Second base is definitely a position to watch as the summer unfolds.
BH
